Personalized Floating Gaffs

NOTE... details have changed since this was originally posted... see this post for current pricing, specs, and ordering information. 
http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=6719.msg67635#msg67635

With Bill's approval, I'm pleased to offer the official NCKA floating gaff. 

These bad boys will last a lifetime and will be difficult to lose since they are designed to float. 

The shaft is made from E-glass offshore trolling rod butts and are very heavy duty.  They can easily double as a club for fish such as rockfish. 

Grips are EVA foam in your choice of three different camo colors.  Super firm and custom shaped to fit the hand.

Each gaff will come with an NCKA skull & crossbones logo and will be personalized with your name or "handle" or other inscription of your choosing.  The decals are encapsulated under a coat of epoxy finish and won't come off.

Standard length is 24" which I think is suitable for kayak fishing, but I can make them as long as 40" for an additional fee. 

The standard hook is a 1/0 gaff hook with a gap of 2 1/8 inches which, again, I believe is appropriate for the type of game we are handling.  Larger hooks are also available at additional cost.  Hooks are installed in the end of the shaft with marine grade epoxy... they ain't going anywhere.

Pricing

Standard 24" gaff with 1/0 hook = $35

Options: 
- 4/0 hook (2 7/8" gap) = Add $5.00
- Longer than 24" length = Add $5.00

PM or email me if you are interested. 

Eric:


Beeeeeyoootiful!!


Can you make me one with a 45 degree straight hook (like my bat gaff?)  willing to pay xtra $.....??

thanks

allen

Allen... give me a couple weeks and I'll see if I can work that out. 

I haven't been able to find a source for those slap-gaff hooks so I'll have to fabricate some.  I'll get serious about that now...

EK

thanks eric:

If necessary, I can still but batt gaffs here in santa cruz, so I could get one and rob the hook, send it to you.

I really like the straight hook for yak-gaffing.  It's a sideways and lifting motion  that lends itself to the low angle gaffing from the seat of the yak, rather than the vertical pull a curved hook requires.

Allen

hey EK - would you be able to add on measurements to it as well? Maybe at least up to 30 inches total lenght from the butt all the way to the top of the shaft?

GROOVEY DESIGN

Yes... can add measurement marks on the shaft after the handle... so starting at about 13 inches or so and to the end of the shaft.

EK

OK Allen... I found some 1/4 inch stainless steel bar stock locally and made a prototype slap gaff hook.

Here's a picture of it temporarily installed in the end of a shaft.

Is this about what you were looking for?  Is the angle about right? 

Let me know your thoughts.

Erik

These look awesome, Erik. 

The gaff I use now is a small colapsible aluminum one, given to me by my grandfather.  Probably not the best idea! 

Its not till March, but I've already let my girlfriend know what I want for my birthday.

Beautiful work... Erik!

Are the hooks stainless steel?

The mustad hooks are called "duratin"... they are a tinned hook.  Tinned hooks are corrosion resistant but not as much so as stainless steel.  Many saltwater fishing hooks are "tinned".

The slap gaff hook that I made is made from 1/4 inch stainless steel rod.

I can get 316 stainless steel gaff hooks but they are expensive... approx $20 just for the hook unless I can find a less expensive supplier or figure out a way to make my own.

Erik

I am down for one more...beautiful.

OK Guys... ever since Chuck asked the stainless steel question, I've been obsessed with coming up with some 316 stainless steel gaff hook options at a reasonable price. 

I did some corrosion testing with simulated ocean water this week to see how well those mustad hooks hold up to the salt.  They do farily well, but fall shy of even the 303 stainless that I tested them against (which is one of the least corrosion resistent stainless steels).  They started to show very minor surface rust after 24 hours in the saltwater, and what I would call moderate surface rust after 48 to 72 hours.  A little surface rust won't really hurt anything mind you, but I felt I could do better than that.

I wound up just making some 316 stainless hooks myself and am proud to offer them as premium gaff hooks.  I think these are going to be the bomb!  I'm updating the pricing to include these options. (see pictures below). 

Right now I have two options.  One is more of a conventional gaff hook design with a 2.75 inch hook gap, and the other is the "Bushnell" model based on Allen's preferences for a batt gaff.  Both are made from 1/4" 316 stainless steel and polished.  Also, I now have some rod bending equipment in my shop so I can make the conventional gaffs with even bigger gaps if requested... probably on the order of a 3.5 or 4" gap would be the largest.

Here is the new pricing:

Standard 24" Gaff with Mustad Duratin 1/0 hook:  $35.00
Mustad Duratin 4/0 hook:                                   Add $5
316 SS Conventional hook (2.75 inch) :                Add $5
316 SS Convential hook (larger size):                    Add $10
316 SS Batt gaff hook:                                       Add $5
Extended length (longer than 24")                      Add $5

Harbor Freight?  Your on it!  Here's what I'd like to order...conventional hook in SS, 27.5 inches total length.  Again...awesome!

Yep... Harbor Freight... Compact Bender... http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=31980

Store had it on sale for $69... plus WAF.

Alright Sean... I'll PM ya.

EK

I like it......."The Bushnell Signature Model"


yeah now!

allen